Francesco Crosara & Susan Pascal: Piano / Vibes Duet

North City Bistro is proud to present a special jazz duet performance by pianist & composer Francesco Crosara and vibraphonist Susan Pascal. The duo will explore musical concepts based on improvisation, original compositions, and select jazz standards. Expect lyrical, exuberant and introspective music.

FRANCESCO CROSARA

Originally from Milan, Italy, Francesco Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Francesco stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians. He has performed at festivals and venues across the USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy.

Since 2017, the Northwest can claim his talents, too, as he’s demonstrated an eagerness to contribute to the local scene. Francesco was selected to perform at the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle and has been featured two years in a row in the trend-setting Earshot Jazz: The Second Century series for his bold and innovative music composition and video work. In Seattle he routinely collaborates with local stalwarts like Gail Pettis, Jay Thomas, John Stowell, Nathan Breedlove, Milo Petersen, Alexey Nikolaev, Clipper Anderson, Mark Ivester, D’Vonne Lewis, Osama Afifi, Farko Dosumov, Bruce Phares, and more. A new CD project will be released in 2024 with the Origin record label.

“A pianist who originally hails from Italy, Crosara is well-versed in bop lore, and his delicate flow might indicate a debt to Bill Evans.” – Down Beat Magazine

“Crosara’s compositions are considerate of their audience, providing a source of joy, comfort, escape, and healing. Crosara believes jazz is a collective experience and a living language that distills a multitude of identities, backgrounds, and personalities.” – Earshot Jazz

SUSAN PASCAL

Seattle jazz vibraphonist Susan Pascal has taken her music through four tours of Singapore and concerts, workshops and clinics across the United States. Her Pacific Northwest appearances include the Earshot Jazz Festival and Centrum Jazz Port Townsend, and as a special guest artist with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and Seattle’s Gypsy jazz group, Pearl Django.

Pascal’s eclectic musical interests are reflected in her own projects. Susan Pascal’s Soul Sauce quintet is a tribute to Latin jazz icon Cal Tjader, and her Brazil Project band features the rich rhythmic and melodic traditions of Brazil. Her straight-ahead jazz group, the Susan Pascal Quartet has been nominated twice for Best Acoustic Group by Seattle’s Earshot Jazz.

Pascal is heard on motion picture soundtracks including “The Wedding Planner”, “Office Space”, ”Eulogy” and “Mirror, Mirror” and is a guest artist on recordings by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, vocalist Greta Matassa, “All This and Heaven Too,” “And to All a Good Night,” and “The Smiling Hour”; the Vern Sielert’s Dektet recording, “From There to Here”; slide guitarist Orville Johnson’s “Slide and Joy”; and many others.

“Susan Pascal’s name is as recognizable on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene as the unique tone of the instrument she plays: the vibraphone.” – Earshot Jazz

“Fluid stick work and coherent, compact solos make this vibraphonist a delight.” – The Stranger, Seattle

“breathtaking” – All About Jazz
“blazing 4-mallet technique” – Earshot Jazz

Graphic by Julia Crosara